4 Cards earn first team selections

Pocono Mountain East brought home its first Mountain Valley Conference baseball championship in 2013.

Zach Sheranko, a senior pitcher and first baseman, led the way.

Sheranko is the Pocono Record's 2013 All-Area Player of the Year and one of four Cardinals players on the first team. Coach Matt Loringer, who led the team to a 15-9 record in his seventh season, is the Coach of the Year.

Pocono Mountain East defeated Pleasant Valley in the conference semifinal before beating Stroudsburg 7-4 in the MVC title game.

Here's a closer look at the all-area team.

Philip Stokes, Stroudsburg

Stokes, a senior headed to Lackawanna Junior College, hit .315 with 19 RBIs and scored 20 runs this spring for the Mounties. His .992 fielding percentage made him one of the top defensive first basemen in the district.

He also earned a 3-0 record on the mound, striking out 34 in 18 1-3 innings.

Mike Gaudette, PM West

Pocono Mountain West leadoff hitter Mike Gaudette set the table for the Panthers' offense, but he was even more impressive defensively. At the plate, the senior hit .277 with 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored. He also stole six bases.

Defensively, Gaudette was one of the best gloves around, committing just two errors this season.

Chris Pignotti, Stroudsburg

As a leadoff man, Pignotti seemed to usually find a way to get on base. The shortstop hit .357 and scored 21 runs for the Mounties and drove in 12 RBIs. Stroudsburg should expect the junior to be one of the key leaders in 2014.

Dillon Dunne, Stroudsburg

Dunne was very versatile for the Mounties this spring, spending most of his time at third base, but also pitched and played second base late in the season. The junior hit .292 with 13 RBIs, but also went 3-1 on the mound with 40 strikeouts in 28 2-3 innings.

Rick Brandes, PM East

The senior was the best in a very talented lot of catchers in the MVC this spring. Brandes hit .306 with four home runs and 22 RBIs for the Cardinals. Defensively, he threw out 50 percent (11-of-22) of potential base stealers.

Evan Fardella, PM East

As expected, the centerfielder quietly had another terrific season for Pocono Mountain East. Fardella hit .390 and scored 32 runs as a leadoff hitter. He stole 12 bases, and defensively took away several extra-base hits with his glove.

TJ Backer, Stroudsburg

Backer anchored himself in the No. 2 hole in Stroudsburg's batting order and didn't disappoint. The centerfielder hit .370 with 24 runs scored and 15 RBIs. Just a sophomore, Backer has a very promising career ahead of him.

Mike Nikorak, Stroudsburg

The sophomore rightfielder hit .333 for Stroudsburg with 33 RBIs. Defensively, Nikorak didn't make an error all year. The MVC coaches' selection as Most Valuable Player, Nikorak — a 6-foot-4 (and growing) right-hander — also shined on the mound, going 3-2 with a 1.93 ERA.

Kevin Sensale, PM East

An early-season injury designated Sensale as the team's DH and the junior thrived in that role. He did come back to pitch a pivotal 3 1-3 innings of relief against Stroudsburg in the conference title game. He hit .419 with three doubles, two home runs, 23 RBIs and 26 runs scored.

Zach Sheranko, PM East

For two years, the left-hander has been a winner on the mound. Sheranko, a senior, went 5-2 with a 2.74 ERA, striking out 61 batters and allowing just 37 hits in 46 innings. Opponents hit .204 against the senior.

Offensively, Sheranko hit .494 with 31 RBIs and slugged .727. He struck out just seven times in the last two seasons.

Dan Hrbek, Pleasant Valley

Hrbek did it all this year for the Bears. The senior went 4-2 with one save to go with a 1.45 ERA. In 38 2-3 innings, opponents hit just .167. When he wasn't pitching, Hrbek was a regular at shortstop. Hrbek hit .421, drove in 14 RBIs, stole 12 bases and scored 22 runs.

Joe DePerno, Stroudsburg

DePerno, a junior, was 6-0 with a 2.35 ERA this year for the Mounties. His 44 2-3 innings led the team as did his 54 strikeouts. Offensively, he hit .308 and scored 19 runs.